How much of Japan's traditional culture comes from China ?

**Hiroyuki Nagashima** · Oct 20, 2005, 10:05

There are many things which descended from other than China.

from Portugal

Catholicism religion
Christmas
GUN
Tempura
Sponge cake(KASUTERA)
Karuta

from Thailand
Shochu

from Rome
Valentine's Day
(....A plot of Japanese chocolate shop)

from U.S.A.
Mother's Day
Baseball

Most things are improved for a Japanese

**Maciamo** · Oct 20, 2005, 10:40

Originally Posted by Hiroyuki Nagashima

from Portugal

Catholicism religion
Christmas

Catholicism has had very little influence on Japanese culture (fortunately). The tradition of celebrating Christmas with decorated fir trees, Santa Claus, and presents does not come from Portugal. In fact, this tradition did not exist in the 16-17th century yet. It only came to Japan after WWII (probably from the Americans).

Tempura
Sponge cake(KASUTERA)

If you are going to start with food, then why not list any kind of foreign food found in Japan, especially those listed here that all Japanese know.

from Thailand
Shochu

What makes you think that Shochu comes from Thailand ? The Chinese call it shao1 zhou4 (燒酒) and the Korean call it soju. So my guess is that it comes from China (or Korea).

from Rome
Valentine's Day
(....A plot of Japanese chocolate shop)

If it is true that Saint Valentine was a Roman martyr, and that 14 February is close to the Ancient Roman festival of Lupercus (the god of fertility), it was not until the Middles Ages that the name "St Valentine's Day" became associated with romantic love and not until the 19th century that the tradition of exchaning 'love notes' appeared. The modern tradition of giving presents to one's lover on Valentine's Day only appeared after WWII in both the West and Japan. In fact, only the Japanese and Koreans restrict gifts to chocolate, and give them to anybody they know, not just their lover. White Day is also a Japanese invention (or at least one made for the Japanese public, as a marketing trick).

from U.S.A.
Mother's Day

If it is true that the USA were the first to establis a national holiday for Mother's Day in 1914 (note that it is not a national holiday in Japan), the origins can be traced back to Ancient Greece. The modern tradition was actually born in England in the 17th century (then called "Mothering Day").